BRADLEY DREDGE has been in the firing line this week for not trying to qualify for the US Open, but he continues to shoot the scores that could hit the targets he considers more important.

He is hoping he will get the most of the home support as the leading Welsh player, two shots off the lead held by Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup, one of five Welshmen to have made the cut in a tightly-packed field.

St Pierre professional Liam Bond continues to make the most of local knowledge to finish on four under par with firm aspirations of a top10 finish after only being told he was playing at the beginning of the week.

While Bond is the fairytale, Gary Houston and Kyron Sullivan are on two under with Phil Price bang on the cut mark at one under.

Dredge has been criticised for his decision to take a rest instead of going to next week’s US Open qualifying, especially as he did so well for so long at the Masters before a final-round 83.

Among those surprised by the decision is New Zealander Michael Campbell, who qualified for the US Open two years ago and went on to win it. And the pair will have plenty to talk about today, with Campbell being paired with Dredge for the third round at the Celtic Manor.

“Bradley is a great player and I am surprised he is not playing, but everyone is different and has their own schedule,” said Campbell after a 66 moved him level with Dredge on six under.

Dredge himself is not bothered by the fuss as he focuses on more immediate targets. “Somebody said top two at the beginning of the week gets me into the top 50. My goal is to come here and try to win the tournament and at the end of the day it’s my decision what I do with the qualifiers,” he said.

“My goal is to be top 50 in the world at the end of the year rather than to target playing in the Majors and that is the best way I see myself doing it.

“I would love to experience more Major tournaments, that is what I want to do, but this is nothing new for me. I will have two weeks off after this and then there is a long run of big tournaments and they are the ones to focus on for me.”

He is in relaxed mood and enjoying the home support, but thinks he will have to score better over the weekend to win. The field will be a little easier with his two playing companions on their way home, double Major winner Retief Goosen and defending champion Robert Karlsson.

“Six under is a decent score and a good place to be. Even though there was very little wind, the greens were not easy to putt on so you have to be patient,” he said.

“You expect two guys like that to perform, but it shows it is tough to do week in, week out. The best guys in the world perform well more often, but two of them just did not this week.

“If you come down the stretch and you have Goosen or Karlsson chasing you then you know they will not back off so them not being here makes it a bit easier if you are in contention.

Bond is living the dream. “I am flying at the moment, really chuffed,” he admitted, just a few days after the birth of his second child.

“I want to finish in the top 10 if I can – nappies are expensive things. This course is pretty much as you see it once you have played here a few times and I know what to expect, where to go.”

Gary Houston made a 10-foot putt on the 17th to be able to relax about making the cut and then birdied 18 to put the icing on the cake.

“That was a struggle from start to end, but I struggled quite well,” was his summary.

“I was on the cut mark and had to grind so I was pleased to get in. There is a top 10 in the offing here. I need about 100,000 Euros to preserve the Tour card so that has to be the first aim and then you can reassess.”

Kyron Sullivan is another in need of a good pay day to help towards retaining his Tour card. “I did not think about the cut, I like to think about trying to win tournaments and pushing forward to get in the top 15, top 20,” he commented.

Phil Price was another who was encouraged by the bunched-up field. “I played all right today, but I was glad to make a nice putt on 17 or I would have been struggling. I went in the water at 14 which ruined my day,” he said.

“Bradley only just made the cut last year and made the top 10 so that is probably my goal.”

The importance of making the cut was best summed up by fellow Welshman Sion Bebb. He needed a 10-foot birdie putt at the last to play the weekend. He and his caddie lay full length on the ground to try to pick the exact line, only for the putt to slip agonisingly past.

He missed his dream by a centimetre or two, but five Welsh players still have the chance of living theirs.